WEDNESDAY · JANUARY 12 MMXXI · PRINTED IN LENDERT · THREEPENCE
The Programme was developed in conjunction with the Public Works Office and the Board of Touring under the oversight of the King's Clerk Sir Aaron Billings. It entails the general improvement of the appearance of public environments, including imposing responsibility on all residents for the condition of their localities. Unlike previous exhortatory policies and schemes, the Decree empowers and commands all vestries and councils to exact amercement “not exceeding twenty shillings” for acts or omissions contrary to the Civic Brightening Plan Guidelines which shall be issued from time to time by the Clerk's Office. The present copy thereof which has been issued to all local authorities and seen by the Regal Post expressly forbids littering „which is the antithesis of the responsible society”, the emitting of „unreasonable” smoke or fumes, as well as the failure to keep vehicles and animals in an „attractive” state, amongst other sundry infractions.
Another key component to the Programme is the introduction of financial incentives for householders who take proactive steps to engage in this civic service. According to the Policies, householders will be entitled to deduct certain amounts from their annual tithe rates used to pay for visual or aesthetic improvements to their properties. These include incentives for repainting or limewashing faded or dulled finishes, exposing half-timbered fill-work, cleaning and weeding thatched roofs, and replacing broken decorative woodwork, terra-cotta &c. Local authorities themselves are entitled to grants from the Treasury for their own efforts in maintaining public amenities. Furthermore, they are enjoined to take appropriate measures against signage, advertisements, billboards and the like, which, as the Policy notes, often spoil the tidiness of a high street in the „pursuit of profit or convenience”.
An entire section in the Policy is dedicated to the Government's guidelines on „civic gardening”, both public and private. It appears the Government is particularly keen to promote the existing laudable horticultural customs of many residents, offering cash grants for the planting of gardens or flowerboxes. Local authorities are ordered to brighten up public places by creating and planting flower beds, hanging baskets and window boxes with local flowers and foliage, according to the season, and to provide households with advice on suitable local flowers to plant. The Government expressed hopes that more public-minded individuals will volunteer their free time in maintaining gardens and plantings, as well as general public cleanliness. It also pointed out that the Programme would create new positions for apprentice gardeners and groundsmen and the unemployed, as well as allowing cripples and pensioners the opportunity to give back to their communities.
There have been some concerns raised by members of the public and local authorities over the Programme's possible impact on parish budgets. The Clerk's Office responded to this matter saying that it expects that „minds will be set at ease after a full perusal of the Plan booklet”, which is 42 pages long and provides for the levying of a minimal „Civic Brightening Levy” on certain ratepayers of means. By Tuesday afternoon many villages and towns had already announced forthcoming public meetings to discuss the Programme and its implementation in each community. This speedy reaction promises that all Nortchmen will be quickly seized of the importance of this Government initiative in the further strengthening of civic and national pride in our Fatherland.